Downtown South San Francisco - South San Francisco, CA Area Guide

This area was originally a part of Rancho Buri Buri, a large Mexican land grant from 1827. The city was represented by some of the country’s largest meat packing companies and conceived as an industrial suburb. Industrial and residential districts began developing in the late 1800s, and the city was officially incorporated in the early 1900s. The focus shifted toward lighter industry and took on the new identity as “the birthplace of biotechnology” with the opening of Genentech in 1976, which employs the largest amount of locals to this day.

The area now thrives as a bustling blue-collar pocket with all the happenings of any Bay Area city. Cultural experiences include enjoying productions of "Peter Pan" at Bay Pointe Ballet and perusing the nearby SFO Museum, where you can see an impressive selection of art and artifacts.

Home to dive bars and neighborhood lounges, this area of South San Francisco has a happening nightlife that always results in an interesting night. Bars are mostly laidback; The Standby is the place for a wide brew selection and karaoke, while Topper has homey old school charm with inexpensive drinks and a friendly crowd of regulars. If you're looking for music after preliminary drinks, head to Molloy's Tavern down the street on Mission. You can play darts, listen to the jukebox and sip on cocktails while you people watch. An all-around good time can be found a few miles south at Fort McKinley; here, you can have upscale Asian fusion dinner, dance the night away to the DJ, and come back for the $20 Sunday brunch that locals rave about.

Just like the after-dark scene, the neighborhood provides an array of flavors for every palette. Favorites include fresh sandwiches at Luigi's Sandwich Palace, Ali Baba's Mediterranean fare that you can order from your tech-savvy tabletop tablet, Home Maid Ravioli Company and Brazilian spice at Cafe di Casa. There are also a handful of Mexican joints for your south-of-the-border fix and even Caribbean food at Flavas that usually can't be found outside of SF. Also, don't overlook longstanding Italian homesteads, such as Bertolucci's for pasta and Galli's for the sweetest tiramisu and cannoli.

Other than walking in the vicinity of Grand Avenue, public transportation, biking and driving are the best ways to get around. This part of the city is close to the South San Francisco BART Station on Mission, a Cal Train Station, and even the Oyster Point Ferry Terminal that stops in Alameda and Jack London Square in Oakland. You can easily get across the bay, to the airport, to the heart of the city and beyond with this area’s convenient modes. Local transportation includes SamTrams that provides 75 bus routes to wherever you need to go.

Cabs and Uber rides are always easily accessible if public transportation isn’t in the cards. Driving is also a breeze; hop on and off the Bayshore Freeway as well as the 380 that connects to the airport. If you’re cruising for a shopping trip or night downtown, there is plenty of public parking. Biking is encouraged with trails near the water and hilly areas, as well as paved ways on most streets.

Parks are aplenty in the Downtown area for all of your recreational needs and more. Near the waters edge, you can take a peak at the snow-capped mountains during the day or the city lights at night from Point San Bruno Park. Paradise Valley is a developed expanse for basketball and baseball, as well as the area’s best dog park. The City Hall Play Area is kid-approved and conveniently located near schools. Fancy a picnic and some tennis? Head to Buri Buri Park to exercise and refuel under the massive trees. Alta Loma is ideal for gatherings over holiday weekends with clean facilities and encompassed in a gated community. Other than hosting the farmer’s market, Orange Memorial Park is also the most expansive and frequented park with 21 acres, every sport’s court and even an indoor aquatics center.

In general, this area of the Bay Area is more affordable than other cities. The median rent for a one-bedroom is about $2,000; significantly under San Francisco’s $2,800 average. It costs about $6 to get from downtown to the center of San Francisco via BART. Going out and recreational activities are similar; a beer costs about $7 and a meal around $15 at a typical restaurant. Overall, this area of the bay has slightly above-average prices for the state of California and is certainly a cheaper alternative to pricey San Francisco.

Downtown features go-to chains but also offers some specialty stores that locals love. Chef’s Warehouse holds pallets of coveted kitchenware for a steal.There are also great shops for gifts; browse the charming vintage and modern designs on every kind of paper at Cavallini & Co, or grab a coveted pair of sheepskin moccasins at Wooly Rascals.

Your typical stops for food, such as Costco, Smart and Final, and Walgreens, are available, but the best place for quality produce and goods is the Saturday Morning farmer’s market at Orange Memorial Park.